Oliver Letwin MP, West Dorset voted against exemptions to the benefit penalty applied to social housing tenants deemed to have excess bedrooms and against requiring a report on affordable housing.

The majority of MPs voted for exemptions to the benefit penalty applied to social housing tenants deemed to have excess bedrooms and to require a report on affordable housing.

MPs were considering the Affordable Homes Bill[1]. The motion supported by the majority of MPs in this vote was:

That the Bill be now read a Second time.

The passing of this motion indicated support for the general principles of the Bill and enabled it to continue on its path to becoming law.

The Bill sought to introduce three exemptions to the benefit penalty applying to social housing tenants deemed to have excess bedrooms. The exemptions were for cases where[2]:

A significant disability related adaption has been made to the property.

A resident of the property, due to their disability, is unable to share a bedroom.

No offer of alternative accommodation has been made by the claimant's landlord or a local authority.

In addition the Bill sought to require a review into the availability of affordable homes and the intermediate housing market. "Intermediate housing" being defined as:

homes for sale and rent provided at a cost above social rent, but below market levels as determined by local house prices. These may include shared ownership, co-operative housing where members have an equity interest, equity loans and other low cost homes for sale and intermediate rent but shall not include affordable rented housing.

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